Crane safety barrier

ABSTRACT

A barrier supported from the base of a crane for movement therewith and shiftable between retracted and horizontally outwardly extended position relative to the base of the crane for enclosing an area about the crane base within which the oscillatable superstructure of the crane is swingable, so as to thereby exclude accidental movement of persons into the area about the base of the crane through which portions of the crane superstructure are swingable.

United States Patent [1 1 Roland et a1.

CRANE SAFETY BARRIER Inventors: David 11. Roland; Edward D.

Hastings, both of Charlotte, NC.

Assignee: J. A. Jones Construction Company,

Charlotte, NC.

Filed: Nov. 21, 1972 Appl. No.: 308,545

11.8. C1. 2112/1, 2.56/1 Int. Cl. 1366c E04h 17/00 Field of Search 212/1, 28; 280/150 R;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1894 Breen 280/150 R May 28, 1974 Furnas 280/150 R Braddock 256/10 Primary Examiner-Ev on C. Blunk Assistant Examiner l-1. S. Lane Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobsg [5 7] ABSTRACT A barrier supported from the base of a crane for movement therewith and shiftable between retracted and horizontally outwardly extended position relative to the base of the crane for enclosing an area about the crane base within which the oscillatable superstructure of the crane is swingable, so as to thereby exclude accidental movement of persons into the area about the base of the crane through which portions of the crane superstructure are swingable.

10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures minnows m $812,978

SHEU 2 OF 3 Fig .3 44 i @T A I a W "III I'll 1 CRANE SAFETY BARRIER This invention relates to a means of reducing the frequency of bodily injury sustained by persons inattentively placing themselves within the area of oscillation of the superstructures of powered, self-propelled motor cranes, wagon cranes and certain other types of cranes.

The invention facilitates compliance with Safety And Health Regulations For Construction, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29, Chapter XVIII, Part I926 (former designation Chapter XIII, Part [518), Subpart N, Section 1926.550 Cranes and Derricks, Subsection (a), paragraph (9), reading:

Accessible areas within the swing radius of the rear rotating superstructure of the crane, either pennanently or temporarily mounted, shall be barricaded in such a manner as to prevent an employee from being struck crushed by the crane.

The invention is designed to cause persons to become aware of the dangerous condition existing in proximity to the crane and is not intended to provide an impenetrable barricade to prevent approaching the crane. In fact, it is virtually impossible to provide a portable barricade in order to prevent a person approaching the crane if he is determined to do so.

Permanently mounted cranes present no problem insofar as the erection of barriers to impede the movement of persons into the ground areas through which the superstructure of the crane is swingable. However, portable cranes have bases of various types and some of these portable cranes are of the self-propelled type whereby they may be moved slightly under their own power to a slightly different on-the-site position. The instant invention not only establishes a barrier about a stationary portable crane but also a barrier for enclosing the danger area about a portable crane as that portable crane is being moved to a slightly different on-site position. v

In many construction jobs a portable crane will remain in the same position throughout the working day and in these instances temporary and stationary ground supported barriers may be used. However, in a majority of the instances where cranes are used on construction jobs the cranes must be moved several or more times during the working day and in these instances it becomes time-consuming and expensive to maintain a barricade about the base of a crane.

It is accordingly the main object of this invention to provide a barrier construction which may be carried from the base of a crane, readily erected with a minimum of effort by the operator of the crane and moved with the crane base in substantially all instances when it becomes necessary to shift the location of the crane on the job site.

Another object of this invention is to provide a crane safety barrier in accordance with the immediately preceding object and with a first form of the invention adapted specifically for use on wheeled crane bases and a second form of the invention specifically adapted for use on tracked crane bases.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a crane safety barrier in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view of a wheeled mobile crane with a first form of the safety barrier of the instant invention operatively associated therewith in extended operative position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is anenlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating one of the end support members of the barrier illustrated in FIGS. I and 2 and disclosing the manner in which the support member may be horizontally retracted and swung to an inoperative position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the side support members of the barrier illustrating the manner in which the side support member is supported for movement to a retracted position on the side of the crane base;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 4 and with the outer end portion of the side support member of the safety barrier broken away;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a tracked crane having a second form of crane safety barrier of the instant invention operatively associated therewith in the extended operative position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the support of one of the side support members of the second form of safety barrier supported from the base of the tracked crane;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view of the base portion of the tracked crane illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 and with the end support members illustrated in retracted inoperative position and the side support members also illustrated in the retracted position;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of one side portion of the base of the tracked crane illustrating the manner in which the associated side support member for the second form of crane safety barrier may be supported therefrom;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the manner in which the end support members of the sec- 0nd form of crane barrier are supported from the base of the tracked crane; and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line ll3-l3 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one of the support members in retracted position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a form of mobile crane including a wheeled frame 12 having a turntable I4 rotatably mounted thereon and upon which cranesuperstructure 16 is mounted.

The frame 12 includes transverse guides 18 and 20 from which retractable outrigger beams 22 and 24, respectively, are supported and the outer ends of the outrigger beams 22 and 24 include vertically adjustable float pads 26.

The foregoing comprises a description of a conventional form of wheeled mobile crane.

The first form of crane safety barrier of the instant invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 28 and operatively associated with the crane 10. The safety barrier 28 includes two pairs of opposite side horizontally outwardly projecting support members referred to in general by the reference numeral 30 and a pair of rear horizontally outwardly projecting support members referred to in general by the reference numerals 32. Each of the support members 30 is supported from the outermost end of a corresponding outrigger beam and the support members 32 are supported from the rear guide 18.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it may be seen that each elongated support member 32 comprises a tubular base section 34 and an extendible section 36 which is telescopingly engaged in one end of the base section 34 for extension and retraction relative thereto. The end of the base section 34 into which the adjacent end of the extendible section 36 is telescoped is provided with diametrically opposite radial bores through which an anchor pin 38 tethered to the base section 34 by means of a chain 40 is insertable. In addition, the first inserted end of the extendible section 36 is provided with a diametric bore through which the pin 38 is receivable in order to maintain the extendible section 36 in its extended position. In addition, the outer end 42 of each extendible section 36 includes an integral anchor ring 44 and a diametric bore registered with the diametrically opposite radial bores formed in the base section 34 and through which the pin 38 is receivable when the extendible section 36 end of the base section 34 remote from the chain 40 is I provided with diametrically opposite registered longitudinal slots 46 through which an anchor pin 48 is secured in order to fasten the base section 34 to the bracket 40 provided therefor on the transverse guide 18 by means of a pin and slot connection. In addition, a U-shaped bracket 52 is secured to the bracket 50 in horizontal alignment with the anchor pin 48 and spaced horizontally from the latter whereby when the base section 34 is in its maximum extended position it may be swung about the anchor pin 48 to the retracted phantom line position illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Of course, after the base section 34 has been swung to a horizontal outwardly projecting position, it may be slid inwardly relative to the anchor pin 48 so that the base end of the section 34 is received within the bracket 52 to maintain the base section 34 in a horizon- I tal position.

base sections 34 of the support members 30 are also longitudinally slotted as at 46 and secured to the outer end of the corresponding outrigger beam by means of a pivot anchor pin 48 and an attendant bracket 52. Thus, each of the support members 30 and 32 may be readily swung to the horizontal position and subsequently horizontally extended. Thereafter, an elongated flexible tension member 56 is passed through the various anchor rings 44 carried by the outer ends of the support members 30 and 32 and the free ends of the tension member 56 are anchored to opposite side forward portions of the frame 12 as at 58. Thus, it may be seen that the tension member 56 is adequately supported in position defining a perimeter of a zone through which the crane superstructure 16 may swing in an unobstructed manner.

If it becomes necessary to move the crane 10 from one location to another at the job site, the float pads 26 may be raised and the crane may be moved to its new location with the safety barrier 28 fully erected. Of course, when the crane 10 is transported over the road the support members 30 and 32 are moved to their fully retracted positions and the endless flexible tension member 56 is removed.

With attention now directed more specifically to FIGS. 7'through 13 of the drawings, there will be seen a second form of crane safety barrier referred to in general by the reference numeral and including opposite side, support members 72 as well as opposite end support members 74. The crane safety barrier 70 is supported from a tracked crane referred to in general by the reference numeral 76 and including a tracked base 78 from which a turntable 80 is supported, the turntable 80 having crane superstructure 82 rotatably mounted thereon.

The tracked base 78 includes longitudinally spaced front and rear transverse beams 84 and 86 from which the track assemblies are supported and the support members 74 are supported from corresponding end portions of the transverse beams 84 and 86.

The support members 74 each comprises a base section 90 of tubular configuration in whose outer end an extendible section 92 is telescoped. The sections 92 may be maintained in fully extended positions by means of pins such as the pins 38 and the outer ends of the extendible sections 92 include anchor rings 94 corresponding'to the anchor rings 44. However, the base ends of the base sections 90 are supported from the corresponding transverse beams by means of brackets 96 including removable stop pins 98 whereby the base sections 90 may be secured in positions angularly displaced 90 relative to each other including a retracted position generally paralleling and extending along the corresponding transverse beam and an extended position projecting horizontally outwardly from the corresponding transverse beam of the base of the crane. The sections 90 are pivotally secured to the brackets 96 by means of pivot fasteners 100 and the support members 74 are wholly receivable between the track assemblies of the base when the support members 74 are in the fully retracted positions.

The transverse beams 84 and 86 are hollow and include opposite end plates 102 through which horizontal sleeves 104 are secured. The support members 72 each comprise a tubular base section 106 having a flanged outer end 108. In addition, the outer end of each base section 106 is provided with diametrically opposite and aligned bores 110. The base sections 106 are telescopingly received within the sleeves 104 and each end of each transverse beam has an anchor pin 112 tethered thereto by means of a chain 114. The pins 112 may be passed through the bores 110 in order to secure the base sections 106 in substantially fully retracted positions within the beams. On the other hand, the inner ends of the base sections 106 are also provided with diametrically opposite aligned radial bores 116 and thus each of the pins 112 may also be utilized to retain the corresponding basesection in its extended position such as that illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings.

The support members 72 each also comprise outer end risers 118. The risers 118 include upper end anchor rings 120 corresponding to the anchor rings 94 and the lower ends of the risers 118 include horizontally directed terminal ends which are telescopingly receivable in the outer ends of the base sections we and are provided with diametrically opposite radial bores 122 which are registrable with the bores 110 in order to receive anchor pins 124 therethrough. Thus, the anchor pins 124 are operable to retain the risers 118 on the outer ends of the base sections 106 and the pins 112 are operable to retain the base sections 106 in the extended positions such as that illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings as well as retracted positions received substantially wholly within the transverse beams of the base of the crane.

The crane barrier 70 also includes an elongated flexible member 126 passed through the anchor rings 94 and 120 and accordingly, the tension member 126 encloses an area about the crane through which the superstructure 82 may be swung. Of course, the crane 76 may also be moved from one location to another at the job site without diassembling the safety barrier 70. However, the support members 72 may be shifted to their recessed positions within the transverse beams 84 and 86 wheneverdesired and the risers 118 may be removed. Also. the support members may be telescoped to their shortened conditions and thereafter swung to their stored conditions illustrated in FIG. 10 whenever it becomes necessary to transport the crane 76 to another job site.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to, falling within the scope of the invention. 1

What is claimed as new-is as follows:

1. In combination, a heavy equipment .structure of the type including a mobile base including front and rear marginal portions and a pair of opposite side marginal portions, said base having a turntable rotatably supported therefrom upon which superstructure is mounted, said super-structure including low portions thereof spaced further radially from the axis of rotation of said turntable relative to said base than various peripherally spaced marginal portions of said base, one of said end marginal portions and each of said side marginal portions including a pair of horizontally outhorizontally outwardly projecting support members and corresponding tension member support means on their outer ends, said tension member means also extending between and supported from the last mentioned pair of support members.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support members are longitudinally extendible.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the inner ends of said support members are supported from said marginal portion for swinging toward depending upstanding positions about horizontal axes extending along the corresponding marginal portions.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said support members are longitudinally extendible.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the outer end portions of the side marginal support members include upturned terminal ends upon whose upper ends said tension member support means are mounted, said tension member means being under at least mild tension.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said end marginal portion support members are supported from said base for swinging to retracted positions generally paralleling said end marginal portions about upstanding axes.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base includes hollow transversely extending elongated members extending between said opposite side marginal portions, said support members of said side marginal portions being supported from the corresponding ends of said transversely extending elongated members in telescopic engagement therewith for inward telescoping relative thereto toward retracted positions with only the outer ends of said support members projecting outwardly of the ends of said transversely extending elongated members.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base includes laterally outwardly extendible outrigger members, said side marginal outwardly projecting members being supported from said outrigger members.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the outer end portions of the side marginal support members include upturned terminal ends upon whose upper ends said tension member support means are mounted, said tension member means being under at least mild ten- 

1. In combination, a heavy equipment structure of the type including a mobile base including front and rear marginal portions and a pair of opposite side marginal portions, said base having a turntable rotatably supported therefrom upon which superstructure is mounted, said super-structure including low portions thereof spaced further radially from the axis of rotation of said turntable relative to said base than various peripherally spaced marginal portions of said base, one of said end marginal portions and each of said side marginal portions including a pair of horizontally outwardly projecting support members spaced therealong, the outer ends of said support members including tension member support means, and elongated flexible tension member means extending between and slidably supported from said support means for longitudinal shifting relative thereto, said tension member means comprising the outer boundary of a plan area disposed about said axis within which the lower portions of said superstructure are contained during rotation of said superstructure relative to said base.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the other end marginal portion of said base also includes a pair of horizontally outwardly projecting support members and corresponding tension member support means on their outer ends, said tension member means also extending between and supported from the last mentioned pair of support members.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support members are longitudinally extendible.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the inner ends of said support members are supported from said marginal portion for swinging toward depending upstanding positions about horizontal axes extending along the corresponding marginal portions.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said support members are longitudinally extendible.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the outer end portions of the side marginal support members include upturned terminal ends upon whose upper ends said tension member support means are mounted, said tension member means being under at least mild tension.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said end marginal portion support members are supported from said base for swinging to retracted positions generally paralleling said end marginal portions about upstanding axes.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base includes hollow transversely extending elongated members extending between said opposite side marginal portions, said support members of said side marginal portions being supported from the corresponding ends of said transversely extending elongated members in telescopic engagement therewith for inward telescoping relative thereto toward retracted positions with only the outer ends of said support members projecting outwardly of the ends of said transversely extending elongated members.
 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base includes laterally outwardly extendible outrigger members, said side marginal outwardly projecting members being supported from said outrigger members.
 10. The comBination of claim 8, wherein the outer end portions of the side marginal support members include upturned terminal ends upon whose upper ends said tension member support means are mounted, said tension member means being under at least mild tension. 